The Mitsubishi Galant was always destined to fail. Put up against such heavyweight rivals as the BMW 5-series and Mercedes-Benz E-class in the executive saloon car sector it never stood a chance, even with its price advantage. But thanks to weak residual values the Galant has become an attractive second-hand buy. Today, you can have what is in effect a luxury cruiser with state of the art features for as little as £2,000.

First introduced to the UK in March 1997 the latest generation Galant was available as either a saloon or estate. Its distinctive shark-like bonnet and headlamp arrangement were attractive at first glance but the looks waned towards the back, with slabby sides and a nondescript rump.

Mitsubishi’s hopes that the Galant would catapult it into the lucrative executive car market were based on its competitive list price, its excellent reputation for reliability and long list of standard equipment. Even the base model 2.0 boasted alloy wheels, airbags, electric windows and cruise control while the Elegance and Sport models added air-conditioning and CD player. But few company car drivers took the bait, many put off by the threat of weak residual values.

Instead the car found favour with private buyers seeking a well-equipped alternative to more mainstream offerings such as Ford Mondeos and Vauxhall Vectras. Just make sure that a private advert which says “full service history” is supported by original invoices.

Mitsubishi’s build quality, like that of most Japanese manufacturers, ensures durability. The switch gear and fabrics may lack the “specialness” of an Audi or a Jaguar but faults — and hefty repair bills — are rare.

There is a choice of three petrol engines: a 2 litre producing 134bhp, a 2.4 litre with 147bhp and a V6 2.5 litre with 161bhp. The smaller four-cylinder engines are trouble free as long as regular servicing and oil changes are adhered to. Both attract the same group 15 insurance rating and should return about 30mpg in mixed driving.

But the pick of the crop is the V6 2.5 which, although only marginally more powerful than the 2.4 litre, has a more satisfying engine note and a smoother power delivery. The performance is brisker while fuel economy is almost as good.

Mitsubishi hoped to inject some glamour into the range when in 1999 it introduced a high-performance Galant VR-4. With the addition of twin turbochargers to the 2.5 litre V6 it produced nearly 280bhp and powered the car to 60mph in less than 6sec. Permanent four-wheel drive and sports suspension transformed handling but the £32,000 list price also meant the car lost its main selling point. Today a 2001 X-registered example can be yours for around £11,000 — not a huge amount of money for an unusual performance saloon car.

But most buyers’ attention will be focused on the more mundane models in the Galant range. If you have never aspired to a BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Audi but fancy the idea of a generously equipped, well-built saloon, a used Mitsubishi Galant is worth a look.

Insurance Group 14 or 15, which is relatively high compared with competitors from Peugeot, Ford and Vauxhall

Boot Large 470-litre boot with a split-fold rear seat on all models

Upholstery Hardwearing but dull cloths. Elegance models get leather as standard

Exhaust Chrome finisher on tail pipe is prone to rusting on saloon models

Wheels Alloys are standard; Sport models get larger 17in rims

Suspension Can be prone to clonks as bushes wear, but they are not expensive items to replace

Warranty Three-year unlimited mileage warranty on new cars

Air-conditioning Standard on top-spec models although many base models had it fitted as an option

Engine No diesel derivatives available but all the petrol units will handle high mileages with ease if serviced regularly

Bonnet 'Shark' nose is prone to chipping; metallic finishes offer additional protection thanks to a top coat of lacquer

Electrics Check it all works; being a Mitsubishi, it probably will

Automatic gearbox An option on all models but it can be one of the few potential weak points so check the car pulls away and shifts smoothly with no transmission noise

Vital statistics

Model Mitsubishi Galant 2.5 V6
Engine 2498cc, six cylinders, 24 valves
Power 161bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 29.7mpg (combined cycle)
Acceleration 0-60mph: 8.2sec
Top speed 137mph

The one to buy

Mitsubishi Galant 2.5 V6 Elegance saloon 2003 03-reg with 50,000 miles. Pay £7,225 from a dealer or £6,000 privately

Or for similar money

2001 X-reg Volkswagen Passat 2.3 V5

2001 Y-reg Peugeot 607 2.0 SE

2001 51-reg Saab 9-5 2.0t Linear

2002 51-reg Honda Accord 2.0 VTEC SE

2002 02-reg Renault Vel Satis 2.0t

Values: Mitsubishi Galant 2.5 V6 Elegance saloon



Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘retail’ is what you would pay a dealer. Autos cost about £300 more than equivalent manual